Legendary Haircut of the Week: Jason Lee

Obviously, it’s famously known as the pineapple. But it could just as easily be the top of a palm tree, lining a sunset beach somewhere.

The Player:

A prolifically average striker whose career spanned an impressive 21 years, bookended by stints with Charlton Athletic and Ilkeston Town.

His biggest honour came at Watford, contributing 10 goals towards their 97-98 Second Division Championship win.

More importantly than that however, was his haircut. Earning the nickname “Pineapple Head” in 1994, he became a favourite joke-butt for Frank Skinner and David Baddiel on their Fantasy Football League show. The ridicule soon turned into a torrent of abuse and chants from crowds around the country.

“He’s got a pineapple, on his head, he’s got a pineapple, on his head, he’s got a pineapple, on his head … he’s got a pineapple on his head!”

Meanly, the guys also mocked Jason’s less-than-predatory goal scoring instinct, and he has later claimed that this and the pineapple jokes undermined his confidence.

I felt a pang of sorrow for him when I read that, and almost cancelled this feature altogether. But then I imagined Jason, morning after morning, for quite some time, appraising himself in the mirror, with that hair on, and thinking something like, “Yep, looking decent this morning. Again.”

So then I decided he probably deserved the mocking. Plus, it’s better to be remembered for something than not be remembered at all, right?

Here’s a clip of Baddiel and Skinner discussing Jason with Michelle Fowler from Eastenders: